1. 11TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
BATTLE DRILLS
IOBC

2. PURPOSE Define battle drills Describe Characteristics of Battle Drills
Share observations from CTC’s
Outline leader decision made during battle drills to more clearly define who decides what?
Improve the quality and speed of Platoon Leader’s decisions.

3. Battle Drill Definition
A Battle Drill is a collective action executed without applying a deliberate decision making process
- Infantry battle drills describe how platoons and squads apply fire and maneuver to commonly encountered situations. They require leaders to make decisions and to issue brief oral commands quickly
Battle Drills require full understanding of each individual and leader task with continual practice.
Repetition is the key.

4. Characteristics of a Battle Drill
Require minimal leader commands.
Standard throughout the Army
Sequential actions
Trained responses to enemy actions or leader’s orders
Mental steps followed for offensive and defensive actions in training and combat
Every leader must know and understand the battle drill.
Trained response – example might be combatives. A reflex, if you will.

5. Observations from CTC’s
Squads/Platoons slow to react to contact, take too many casualties as a result
Platoons sometimes annihilated by fire-team or smaller size enemy force
Fratricide occurs too often
Initiative is too often lost, enemy escapes
Diarrhea of the squad.
Leaders take to much time to report, and not enough time reacting to the situation at hand.
We do not trust our team leaders to make the right decisions. Let them do their jobs.

6. Why problems occur? Lack of trust
Lack of proficiency with weapons and equipment
Inability to operate without key leaders
Lack of training equals lack of leadership
Tough, realistic training is key.
Amongst platoon members and leaders-combat veterans will tell you trust in each others’ judgement and ability is essential
To dependent on the squad leader to make the decision. What happens when he is no longer with us.
Poor training level on control of direct/indirect fires

7. Why problems occur? Overly complicated decision making processes
Lack of all-round security
PLTs get focused in direction of initial contact-enemy maneuvers on them
Target fixation
“Punch him in the nose and shoot him in the ear.” We become so focused with the contact to the front, we forget about the guy maneuvering to our flank at all times.
Soldiers become fixated on one target when there are other threats at hand.

8. How to Get Better Train to HIGH standards Use “fall-out one” training
“Cross Train”
Develop/train/enforce SOPs
Fire control
Train to make contact from different directions
Take normal leaders out and let others take charge
Kill leaders in training and force dormant leaders to make a stand.]
SOP’s are key within an Infantry platoon. Stress the importance of SOP’s and the significance.
Every soldier should train to a high state of proficiency with all weapons and equipment.
Always train and think about fire control.
Train contact from all sides. Don’t assume it will always come from the front.

9. How to Get Better Build Teams Through Adversity
Do hard things together in training
Demand honesty,
Instill high standards of conduct
demand obedience of junior leaders
Train all PLT members to call for fire and to be proficient with radios
Standard hand and arm signals
Tactical Patience
Enforce all-round security
DO NOT require your team leaders and squad leaders to call for fire. They have an immediate threat on their hands. They should not be thinking about indirect fires.
Security. Hit it again.

10. How to Get Better
Train all soldiers to give “Go where, do what” orders.
Reduce amount of verbal noise
Clearly define what decisions you expect leaders to make under fire
Instill decision-making at the lowest level
Act based on training. Teach them to follow their team leader. I don’t need to yell moving, when I hear my buddy shoot, I know he is set. When he does not hear me shooting, he knows I am moving. Same thing with SQD leaders. Their actions tell the squad to execute.
Clear, concise task and purpose: I.e. “Move behind that berm and suppress the right bunker so B team can move” vs. “Get up and move!” or “Move out!”

11. SPEED VERSUS FIRING EFFECTIVENESS
Speed of Advance
Fire Team (See Decision Matrix)
Buddy Team (See Decision Matrix)
Individual (See Decision Matrix)
Enemy Firing Effectiveness
(Volume and Accuracy)

12. Platoon Battle Drills 07-3-D9103 React to Contact
07-3-D9104 Break Contact
07-3-D9105 React to Ambush
07-3-D9106 Knock out Bunkers
07-3-D9108 Enter and Clear a Building
07-3-D9110 Enter/Clear a Trench
07-3-D9112 Conduct Initial Breach of a Mined Wire Obstacle
07-3-D9282 React to a Chemical Attack
07-3-D9283 React to a Nuclear Attack
07-4-D9203 React to Indirect Fire

13. REACT TO CONTACT DECISIONS
TEAM LDR SQUAD LDR PLATOON LDR
Assault Request Call For Fire (CFF) CFF
Establish Maneuver CFF
Base of Fire Request CFF
Establish Maneuver
Base of Fire
Establish
Base of Fire
Break Contact
Break Contact
Help Squad
Break Contact
Break Contact
Considerations:
- Can your element gain fire superiority?
- Are you within hand grenade range?
- Are you within an enemy kill zone?
- Given fire superiority, from your position
can a subordinate unit maneuver to a
vulnerable flank?
CFF
Where to focus/distribute fires
Whether or not fire team can assault-and from which direction
Best way to move team against enemy
If can’t assault-decide whether to establish a base of fire or break contact (team level)
NOTE: Team leader not spending a lot of time trying to generate SALUTE report or call for indirect fire. Team leader leads by example, gives clear/concise orders

14. POINT FIRE (FIRE TEAM) TARGET TL AR GR R ID: SL’s IR w/NVGs
ENGAGE: PAQ/PEQ w/2:1
Ball/tracer mix AR GR
ID: TL’s IR w/NVGs
ENGAGE: TL’s
IR impact point
ID: TL’s IR w/NVGs or tracer fire
ENGAGE: PAQ/PEQ @ TL’s
IR impact point or iron sights at
Intersection of TL’s & SAW tracers R
PAQ-4/PEQ-2 BEAM
TRACER
M16/M203
ID: TL’s tracer fire w/SAW fire
ENGAGE: PAQ/PEQ @ TL’s
IR impact point or iron sights at
Intersection of TL’s & SAW tracers

15. Team Leader
Decision #1
Enemy Action
Attack!

16. Team Leader
Decision #2
Enemy Action
Est Base of Fire

17. Team Leader
Decision #3
Enemy Action
Break Contact

18. Lead Team keeps assaulting Position 2nd Team as needed
Squad Leader
Decision #1
Enemy Action
Lead Team keeps assaulting
Position 2nd Team as needed
(Base Right/Left)

19. Lead Team Est Base of Fire
Squad Leader
Decision #2
Enemy Action
Lead Team Est Base of Fire
2nd Team Assaults L/R
(Assault Right/Left)

20. Lead Team Est Base of Fire Squad Leader Calls For Fire
Decision #2a
Enemy Action
Lead Team Est Base of Fire
2nd Team Assaults L/R
(Assault Right/Left)
Squad Leader Calls For Fire

21. Lead Team Est Base of Fire 2nd Reinforces Base of Fire
Squad Leader
Decision #3
Enemy Action
Lead Team Est Base of Fire
2nd Reinforces Base of Fire
(Base Right/Left)

22. Squad Leader Decision #3a Enemy Action Lead Team Est Base of Fire
2nd Reinforces Base of Fire
(Base Right/Left)
Squad Leader Calls For Fire

23. Base of Fire Not maintainable
Squad Leader
Decision #4
Enemy Action
Assault Not Possible
Base of Fire Not maintainable
Then Break Contact

24. 1st Squad Base Left/Right
Platoon Leader
Decision #1
1st Squad Base Left/Right
Attack Left/Right
Enemy Action

25. 1st Squad Base Left/Right
Platoon Leader
Decision #1a
1st Squad Base Left/Right
PL Calls For Fire
Attacks Left/Right
Enemy Action

26. 1st Squad Base Left/Right Reinforce Base Left/Right
Platoon Leader
Decision #2
1st Squad Base Left/Right
Reinforce Base Left/Right
Enemy Action

27. Platoon Leader Decision #3 Enemy Bunker 1st Squad Base Left/Right
Attack Left/Right
2nd Squad Base Left/Right
3rd Squad Assault Left/Right

28. Platoon Leader Decision #3a Enemy Bunker 1st Squad Base Left/Right
Attack Left/Right
PL Call For Fire
2nd Squad Base Left/Right
3rd Squad Assault Left/Right

29. Platoon Leader Decision #4 Enemy Bunker 1st Squad Base Left/Right
2nd Squad Base Left/Right
PL Call For Fire
3rd Squad Base L/R (if needed)
1st Squad Break Contact
2nd Squad Break Contact
3rd Squad Break Contact

30. Knock Out Bunkers
Friendly Bunker
Enemy Bunker

31. FRAG OUT
Enter/Clear a Trench

32. Near Ambush

33. Far Ambush
Cease Fire
Shift Fire

34. Breach a Mined/Wire Obstacle

35. TL/SL
Same as in squad drills-but those in contact must be aware of what others are doing, where to focus their troops, and when/where to move them to based on actions of those in contact

36. Squad Leader If lead team keeps assaulting,
If lead team establishes base of fire
If squad can’t assault the enemy
Advise PL on emplacement of machineguns/other forces
Decide where/when/how to consolidate and reorganize based on terrain/threat
Put 2nd team in position to support as needed (Base Fire/Support)
Decide whether to use 2nd team to assault (Assault L/R) or to reinforce base of fire
Decide whether to maintain base of fire or to break contact
SL bases his decisions on actions of team in contact. Not much time spent yelling back and forth between SL/TL. Trust. SL focus on direct fire-fight, let PL handle indirect fire. SL doesn’t ask TL for too much information.
Direction, Description, Distance

37. NOTES ON DECISIONS
The decisions required of leaders for Battle Drills 1, 1A, and 2 apply to all of the remaining battle drills as well.
The employment of indirect fires is best left to the PL and/or PSG.
This allows TL/SLs to fight their elements in direct contact. PL is first man in PLT with secure radio communications capable of linking into fires nets.

38. Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant
If squad in contact assaults
If squad in contact establishes base of fire
If squad in contact breaks contact
Position machineguns and squads to support it.
Position machineguns-decide whether to assault with another squad, establish a PLT base of fire, or break contact.
Direct squads as to where to assault. Position others to support it-decide whether to establish base of fire, assault or break contact

39. Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant
Employment of indirect fires
PSG establish CCP
Decide when/where/how to consolidate and reorganize
Reporting
Think positioning and distance to the target
Always report to higher. Keep him informed. Company commanders needs a SITREP as soon as possible, and an SALUTE report when you have consolidated.
NOTE: Don’t pressure SLs for large number of reports when in contact. Trust their abilities and actions. PL/PSG make decisions based on what they see and what actions SLs have taken.

40. Decisions Common to All Drills and Leaders
What to do with casualties
When/where/how to consolidate and re-organize based on threat/time/unit condition
When/Where/How to focus/distribute/shift fires
How/when to use markings and signals

41. CONCLUDING PRINCIPLES
Train how we fight.
Empower all leaders to tune their actions to local reality
Assault behind effective fire
All attacks are penetration attacks
Leap frog units and sequence drills
Battle handover and setting conditions
Position selection and initiative to get there are critical skills for all soldiers
Understanding of time, space, and forces
Development of leaders and teams

42. CONCLUDING PRINCIPLES
Train how we fight.
Assault behind effective fire
Battle handover and setting conditions
Position selection and initiative to get there are critical skills for all soldiers
Development of leaders and teams

43. QUESTIONS?